Never Again. Never Forget. Never Again to Martial Law!

Never Again. Never Forget. Never Again to Martial Law!

Martial Law @ 52 mobilization, September 21, 2024, at Bathurst and Wilson Parkette

TORONTO – Members of the progressive Filipino community in Toronto gathered and rallied at Bathurst and Wilson to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines. The people’s call: NEVER AGAIN, NEVER FORGET, NEVER AGAIN TO MARTIAL LAW!

BAYAN Toronto, Migrante Ontario, Anakbayan Toronto, Anakbayan North York, Anakbayan Scarborough, Malaya Canada, Canada-Philippines Solidarity Organization (CPSO), International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP-Toronto) were joined by many other concerned Filipinos and allies on September 21, 2024 at the Bathurst and Wilson Parkette. 

Wilma Delo, BAYAN Canada Chairperson

The commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines remembers not only the horrors of the past but the continued resistance of the Filipino people from the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. up to the fascist and anti-people US-Marcos-Duterte regime. 

The BAYAN Toronto-led rally started with land solidarity. It was then followed by different speeches from different organizations. In between the speeches, Filipino youth organizers performed a song, “Ang Masa,” which talks about how the people are the makers of history and are the true heroes. Another song, “Awit ng Kalayaan” or “Song of Freedom,” was performed collectively by everyone who attended the rally. The song calls on the Filipino people in their numbers to fight for justice and their genuine liberation from foreign domination. Throughout the program, the message was consistent  – the people see through the injustices, from Marcos Sr. to Marcos Jr. 

“Ang pagbabalik ng pamilya Marcoses sa kapangyarihan ay tunay namang nakakabahala. Ito ay nagpapakita ng muling pagyurak sa magiting na kasaysayan ng mga unang lumaban sa diktadurang Marcos,” said Hannah Sabit, Migrante Canada’s Campaigns and Communications Officer. 

BAYAN Toronto also highlighted the 50th year of the Labour Export Program (LEP) that was institutionalized under Marcos Sr.’s fascist regime. This policy systematizes the export of Filipinos as commodities – their cheap labour in exchange for their remittances that have been keeping the Philippine economy afloat for decades.

Hannah Sabit, Migrante Canada Campaigns and Communications Officer, at the ML@52 Rally in Toronto

Meanwhile, the Philippine government continues to neglect our overseas kababayan who continue to experience many challenges including: homelessness, physical and sexual abuse, labour exploitation, family separation, getting victimized by illegal recruiters and human traffickers, among many others. When they turn to the Philippine government for support and assistance, they are made to wait for months, if they are to be given any assistance at all. 

“Mula kay Ferdinand Marcos Sr. noon hanggang kay Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ngayon, walang pagkakaiba. Sa kabila ng mga pangako ng pag-unlad at reporma, maraming Pilipino ang saksi sa di naiibang istilo ng pamamahala ni Marcos Jr. at ng kanyang yumaong ama — mula sa pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan, labis-labis na pagwawaldas ng pera ng taong-bayan, kawalan ng pananagutan ng pamahalaan, hanggang sa hindi sapat na pagtugon sa mga mahahalagang isyu sa lipunan,” Hannah added.  

The group exposed the Marcoses’ agenda – to serve and prioritize the interests of the few ruling elites over the needs of the majority. Hence, the struggle for genuine democracy and sovereignty continues to advance and grows even stronger to this day. 

In its statement, Migrante Ontario continues to assert that it is not through militarization nor the LEP that the broadest masses of Filipinos can uplift themselves from poverty and exploitation and achieve genuine freedom and sovereignty. It is through the struggle for national democracy towards national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform, that the Filipino people can genuinely address and resolve the current socio-political and economic issues in the Philippines.

With the upcoming BBM visit to Canada, BAYAN and its allies call on everyone to stand united in resisting his fascist and anti-people agenda and opposing Canadian imperialist expansion in the Philippines.

Never Again! Never Forget!

NEVER AGAIN TO MARTIAL LAW

PRESS RELEASE